Significance of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA level in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with radiofrequency ablation

• Published in: Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international 2007-04, Vol.6 (2), p.172-175
• Main Authors: Du, Xi-Lin, Ma, Qing-Jiu, Wu, Tao, Bao, Guo-Qiang, Lu, Jian-Guo, Chu, Yan-Kui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ablation; Adolescent; Adult; AFPmRNA; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Fetoproteins - analysis; carcinoma; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery; Catheter Ablation; Female; hepatocellular; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; radiofrequency; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RT-PCR
• ISSN: 1499-3872

BACKGROUND: Many methods are used to treat liver cancer. Among them, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a hot topic because of its advantages. This study was designed to determine the significance of blood alpha-fetoprotein mRNA (AFPmRNA) changes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with RFA. METHODS: The AFPmRNA content in blood samples from HCC patients was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before RFA and 48 hours, 72 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks later. RESULTS: The blood of 183 patients was negative for AFPmRNA before RFA, but that of 62 of them was positive 72 hours later, then returned to negative after 2 weeks. The blood of 129 patients was positive for AFPmRNA before RFA, but that of 112 of them became negative 2 weeks later; 17 patients were still AFPmRNA positive 2 weeks after RFA. CONCLUSIONS: Blood AFPmRNA, which is increased temporarily after RFA, can be used as an objective index for the persistence and recurrence of HCC after RFA.